Lantronix xPico WiFi Shield for Arduino

The xPico WiFi embedded wireless device server from Lantronix has a chip-sized footprint of only 24 x 16.5 mm. With 256-bit AES encryption and an extended temperature range of -40 to +85°C, the xPico boasts a complete device server application with a full IP stack and web server. The xPico also offers simultaneous software-enabled access point (SoftAP) and Client mode, thereby facilitation ease of access access while maintaining a secure network connection. A wireless access point functions only as an access point, but SoftAP allows a wireless client antenna to function as the access point or the client.

The xPico can be used to add wireless access to embedded systems. This includes the ability to access data from any mobile device, including smartphones and tablets. Lantronix offers a variety of xPico-enabled solutions, including a Freescale Tower System Module. Now the xPico is available on an Arduino shield.

There are other WiFi shields for use with the Arduino, but they often place the responsibility for things like connectivity and management tasks on the poor little Arduino. In this case, if the system loses connectivity for any reason, it's up to the Arduino to sort things out. (In reality, of course, it's up to the person creating the Arduino sketch to deal with this sort of thing.) By comparison, the xPico handles all the connectivity and management tasks itself.

The xPico WiFi shield -- along with a demo sketch -- allows engineers and designers to add WiFi client and soft access point capabilities quickly to their Arduino-based systems. The shield makes it easy to connect securely to an Arduino using web-based tools and interactive applications on smartphones or tablets.

There is a lot of talk about the Internet of Things these days, but creating one of these things typically requires a high level of engineering expertise. The introduction of the xPico WiFi shield for Arduino opens the door for anyone -- professionals and hobbyists -- to start creating devices for the IoT.

@Max: Since the xPico WiFi shield is designed for industrial temperature range of -40 to +85°C, can this be used for industrial designs too? Is there an Arduino board available for the industrial temperature range?